As someone who likes going to see lots of live music shows, but thinks ticket prices and associated fees are getting out of control, I wasn't really psyched to see that part of the Mayor's funding plan for the Columbus streetcars will be a 4% fee on all sporting, music, arts, and theatre tickets (over $10) sold in the "benefit zone." This would presumably include the LC, Nationwide, the new baseball park, etc.

Another segment of the financing will come from a $0.75 increase in parking meter and parking lot hourly rates in the "benefit zone."

I believe the benefit zone is from the Franklin County Courthouse to the OSU Student Union, or 2.8 miles.

So from my perspective, they want you to use the benefit zone, but once you get there, they will charge you more for being there. For people from the suburbs or other parts of the city that can't walk to the "benefit zone," you will need to drive there and park, and pay an increased fee, then when you go to buy your tickets, you will be socked with a 4% fee there as well. Sounds inviting.

I think the streetcar idea is so ridiculous and a total waste of money. It will not alleviate traffic congestion, nor is it set up in a way that many people can use it for transportation, which is the mayor's new "angle" now that fuel prices are high. Also, there is a COTA bus route, that runs the same route, and doesn't cost $103 million to construct, or $14 million per year to operate.

Columbus has a million problems that should be much higher priority than this lame brain idea which serves no purpose other than to feed the mayor's ego, so 15 years from now he can tell everyone that he was the one who put in the streetcars.

Columbus has a school system that, if given a choice, literally no one would send their kids to, there a deteriorating neighborhoods (like Main Street west of Bexley, Hilltop), increasing crime, and tons of foreclosed houses in Columbus, the Symphony is close to going out of business; and the mayor is concentrating his efforts on street cars, encouraging the building of $600,000 2-bedroom condos, privacy invading cameras, and a tired, old, rehashed curfew idea. Sad sad. Budget shortfalls? phewy.

So yes I think the streetcars are idiotic. A close 2nd in idiotic gov't spending is the new Franklin County Courthouse. Any other opinions on the streetcars?

These street cars are not for you. They are not for people who know what the #2 are. They are for brochures and marketing. They are to attract conventions and conferences. They are for people that come to columbus for a company meeting that are staying at the Hyatt who want to take a ride up to see the famous Horseshoe.

_________________This place is like the fair, only it cost a dollar to get in and the rides are junked cars.

They should use that money to start building a Cinci, Columbus, Cleveland super fast super train.

I would at least be intrigued, and consider supporting a rail system that runs around the 270 loop, with park and ride stops around the loop, and in 2-3 optimal spaces, have rail system that runs from 270 into downtown. That would do more to get people into the City than the streetcars.

As a guy in the Dispatch described streetcars today.... "a really expensive Disney ride"

Or maybe the cheaper solution would be to make the #2 bus look like a streetcar!

1. It's a starter rail, placed in a spot that is likely to garner the most riders and acceptance. The goal is, that as it succeeds it expands into a comprehensive light rail system serving the metro area.2. I'm not going to do the homework for you, but there's roughly 70 cities who have added a streetcar starter line in the last decade...and probably 200 studies that address development and economic growth along those lines.

1. It's a starter rail, placed in a spot that is likely to garner the most riders and acceptance. The goal is, that as it succeeds it expands into a comprehensive light rail system serving the metro area.